The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-25
MR.. D. R. THOMAS RESIGNS
HE TENDERS HIS RESIGNATION AS
AN ALDERMAN

Violate His Oath-The Council Re-
fuses to Accept the Resignation-A
Misunderstanding Apparent - The
Work of the City Fathers.
At the meeting of the City Council last
night the consideration of certain matters
pertaining to the granting of a permit to
erect steps to certain tenements placed D.
r. Thomas in what he considers an inn
proper position, and he rendered
his resignation as an Alderman.
Some time ago Mrs. Catherine
Feeley erected three tenement houses
on the corner of st. Julian and Lincoln
streets, and she petitioned the Council to
grant her permission to erect stoops i'll front
of them. As the ordinance forbade the
stoops the petition was refused, but Mrs.
Feeley placed in front of each door two
steps, which being on the sidewalk, were
likewise contrary to the ordinance.
Mr. Thomas who was Chairman of the
Street and Lane Committee, discovered that
the steps had been built, and he ordered the
City Marshal to have them taken down
Mrs. Feeley then sent petition to the Coun-
Gil asking permission to erect two steps IN
front of the door of each house, and that
petition was read last night.
THE RESIGNATION rendered.
At the conclusion of the reading Alder
man Thomas arose and stated the facts as
given above He then asked the Council to
refuse TO grant the petition, as the steps had
been erected in violation of the ordinance.
Alderman Bogart moved that the petition
be referred to the Street and Lane Com
mittee.
Alderman Thomas said that if the Coun-
Gil referred the petition to the Street and
Lane Committee he would have to resign;
that such action on the part of the Council
would force him TO violate his oath of office,
which was that he would enforce the ordi-
names, and he could not permit the Coun-
cal to compel him to violate his oath.
The question was put and the petition was
referred to the Street and Lane Committee.
Mr. Thomas then wrote out his resigna-
ton and at the conclusion of the regular
business of the meeting he handed it to the
Clerk who read it to the Council In it Mr..
Thomas said that he thereby rendered his
resignation as Alderman for reasons known
to the Council As soon as he handed it in
he left the room ana the building.
NOT ASKED TO VIOLATE HIS OATH.
When it was read Alderman Bogart
moved that it be not accepted. He said
that he thought Mr.. Thomas was laboring
under Misrepresentation as to the action of
the Council in referring the petition to the
Street and Lane Committee; that in his
opinion the petition ought to be so referred.
The matter of the entrance TO these houses
had been considered by the Council, it was
true, but that petition had never been
considered, and it was proper
that it should go before the committee. If
the erection Of the steps was in violation of
the ordinance the committee would so re-
port, but he did not think that the opinion
of the chairman of the committee ought to
obtain with the Council until the committee
had passed upon the petition.
Aldarraaan Ttrpoor, dol tho motion
and said that he agreed with Alderman
Bogart. He did not think that the mere
report of the chairman of the committee
ought to be considered until the committee
had acted. Alderman Thomas did not seem
to understand that the Council did not want
him to violate his oath of office, but that
the petition was a respectful one, addressed
To the Council, and it should, like all others,
receive serious consideration.
THE RESIGNATION REJECTED
The motion not to accept the resignation
was put and unanimously carried.
Mr.. Bogart asked if it would not be in
accordance with custom TO appoint COM
mittee to wait upon Alderman Thomas.
The Mayor asked If Alderman Bogart
made a motion to appoint such a committee.
Mr.. Bogart responded NO. and there
the matter ended for the night.
The members of the Council all expressed
their very great regret that Mr.. Thomas
NGOulp nave resigned, Tor Jney SAID JneY
were sure he did it under misapprehension
No one wished to compel him to do any thing
not strictly in accordance with his oath of
Office, and they did not think that in refer
ring the matter TO the committee they had
done anything more than let the petition
follow the usual cou. sc of such matters.
THE POLICE WANT NEW PISTOLS
When other matters were under consider
alton requisitlon from the Chief Of Police
for
read 1t stated that the pistols now in use
are u years old, and of the old style paper
cartridge and percussion cap pattern. They
are useless, and the men have no confidence
in them whatever. II stated that when
Officer Bender was attacked by five men a
few nights ago he attempted to use his
pistol, but it snapped three times and would
not go of.
A communication from President John
ston, of the City and Suburban railroad
asking for a conference between the Street
and Lane Committee and committee from
the directors of the road, on the subject of
extending the street car line to the Ocean
Steamship wharf was referred to the Couu-
Gil by the Street and Lane Committee
Chairman Thomas saying that the commit
tee did not like 10 act upon the communica-
ton without first consulting the Council
The communication was referred back TO
the committee
A petition was received from J. J. Nc
Donough Il Co., stating that they had
leased the Hawkins lumber yard on Wheaton
street, but could not utilize the yards unless
they could build switch connecting them
with the Savannah, Florida and Western
tracks. They therefore petitioned the Coun-
Gil to grant them permission TO build the
track across the intervening street The
petition was referred TO the Street and Lane
Committee.
A petition from the Knights of Pythias
Building Association for permission to
make improvements on the property re-
Gently purchased was referred to the Fire
Committee.
HIS cow FELL IN A SEWER.
A petition was received from A Tant for
reimbursement for the loss of a cow. In
his petition he stated that on Aug he
went TO his pasture to get his COW, but he
did not find her in her accustomed
haunts. nor did he discover
any trace Of the missing bovine
until the l4th, when he found her in a sewer,
into which she had fallen. In the fall she
sustained injuries from which she died. and
Mr.. Tant is of the opinion that as the city's
sewer was not strong enough for his COW to
walk over, that the city ought TO pay him
what the animal was worth.
An ordinance providing that the sidewalk